Giants reach three-year deal with Marco Scutaro

The Giants have reached a three-year, $20 million deal with free agent second baseman Marco Scutaro, pending a physical.

Scutaro and Angel Pagan were the organization’s top two priorities entering the winter meetings in Nashville, and in two days, the Giants have secured both hitters at the top of their lineup, doling out a combined $60 million.

Scutaro was acquired at the trade deadline last season and hit .362 the rest of the way before helping lead the Giants to a World Series title.

woo hoo…it only took aaron rowand money to get both! now that’s a bargain!

Wineguy

Hey…wait a sec. What devilry is this? He comes over from the Rockies and hits like he sold his soul to the devil, only to get rewarded with a salary of: $6.66 x 3!??!

Yikes!

666 666 666

seattlegiants

now go out and sign someone for Left and part time first base…Swisher ideally, but Ludwick and Hairston will work..get ‘er done and see you all in Scottsdale…This is awesome, great deals as far as I am concerned!

Free Wilson

Yay, now all we need is a LF and a long man to replace Mota.

Oil Can Boyd

gs beat out cards for Marco- maybe he didnt want to play with his bosom buddy, Matt Holliday

Baggarly wasn’t too far off. It is 3 years. He’s never that far off. Got the Melky scoop way early. Had to mea culpa. Had the Huff thing snooped out early. Tweeted the third year thing and mea culpa’d that as well.

The third year was the cost of doing business. Adjust analysis accordingly…

The Giants were over a barrel here and had to do these 3 deals because for you guys who haven’t figured it out yet–MLB is flush with money and every player is getting more money and years no matter how old they are.
Scutaro, Lefferts and Pagan.

Look at Victorino’s contract he’s making 3M per year more than Pagan and Mike Napoli is making tons of money, it is what it is now in MLB get used to it. Our teams are going to overpay for everybody from now on with all the money in TV deals both Nationally and locally.

Gigantes15

woops! Affeldt not Lefferts that shows how old I’ve gotten

Matthew

For those of you that say this is overpaying…chill! If ANYONE deserved an extra year and ” bonus” , it is Scutaro, who made this franchise a TON of money with his incredible performance down the stretch.. Even if we eat all of year 3, it is totally worth it to keep this gem of a man, leader, and performer… He is much more Visquel for his influential skills than Huff.

I am thrilled that he chose us, as did Angel.

Well done, SF Giants, Brian, Bruce, Bobby and Marco

Die Hard Giants Fan

Another great contract for the Giants. Earlier this board was talking about two years, 8 mil per for Scutero. Heck, he was making $6 million when he came over from Colorado. So if we got him for $20M, then we paid $4M for year 3. At the rate salaries going you’re not going to find a journeyman 250 hitting 2nd baseman for 4 million in three years. This and Pagan’s contracts were great for the Giants. I still like pulling the trigger on Swisher or dealing for Willingham. The nice thing about the Giants in 2013 is that if Pence, Lincecum, and Zito don’t perform well there is $50 million wiped off the books for 2014. This team is well managed for the future.

al oha

Hunter Pence to make TWICE as much as Buster Posey, is just wrong.

Matthew

Gigantes, we brought back Craig Lefferts?! Sweet!!!!

Lefty

Foothills: Pagan’s salary for 2013 is $7, not $10 million–don’t know how you want to figure the signing bonus.

South City Jim

Are we in a time lock? Lefferts? I think you mean Affeldt. But that was good. Almost thought it was 1985 for a second there.

This is not another Huff, he’s another Vizquel – the guy plays like he’s 32 not 37.

Gigantes15

Scutaro had more than a hot 2 months over the last 3 years he’s batted .275 with a .721OPS in 2010 with Boston and in 2011 he batted .299 with a .781OPS and was one of the few RedSox in their Sept. collapse who played great down the stretch, just like he did with the Gigantes.
.362 with a .859OPS for the Giants, he’s aging gracefully that’s for sure.

Wineguy

Oria, I just went a looked at his career stats. As a late bloomer he didn’t get a starting gig until he was 28. He is pretty much the model of constancy. OPS over the last 4 years .789 / .721 / .751 / .753

With no evident surge or decline in power or average he looks like a contact hitter with a professional approach. Omar Vizquel is a good comparison with the bat.

3 years sounds like a lot, but think of it as 7.5 million per for two years with a 5 million playoff MVP bonus. Gives Panik time to come up when he’s ready and gives us a great veteran on the bench for the 3rd year.

pinson

Awesome mistake there Gigantes15. Hammaker! Bedrosian! Reuschel!

Matthew

Paul, we think alike (see my #16)…. And the Giants, who I just saw mentioned Visquel as well….

fvamxg

123t

GiantDuck

Affeldt. Done. Angel. Done. Scoots. Done. Now, shake those last few moths out of the wallet and get Swisher. Sheeesh. It might drive me back to cigars.

The next signing for this stingy and SFG org. is:
Mr. Nick Swisher to play LF
and this team will be a nightmare to opposing clubs!

Matthew

I’m seeing let’s of you talk Swisher… What is it that excites everyone? He seems weak in the field from what I’ve seen, and hitting left handed, AT & T will eat him up…. And he wants too much money. What am I missing?

Matthew

*lot’s* ….

Die Hard Giants Fan

I see the Dodger trolls have arrived. I guess they are truly afraid that $300 million won’t win them a division this year, LOL. Put this in perspective, Napoli and Victorino vs Pagan, Scutaro and Affeldt. Both cost their teams $78M. That’s why the Giants are World Champions and the Red Sox are lost and Dodgers not too far behind in the clueless department.

Gigantes15

Swisher unlike all the current Giants is so non-clutch in the playoffs, he buckles when the pressure is really on.
He wants 11M per season and I can’t see the Giants paying that, I really gotta believe they are done with buying players, if they get a LF’d it will be trading for one IMO.

JD4SF

IMO We got Pagan and Scoots back for reasonable dollars in the current market because THEY wanted to return to play for the Giants TEAM and the Giants’ fan base that fills the stadium and roars loud support. And yes, they see the potential for another WS ring. All good bait they swallowed willingly. Glad to see them both returning.

Sounds like Theriot may also return as utility IF.

When you consider how this team came together the last half of the 2012 season, playing as a TEAM was a huge strength. Starting 2013 with that same TEAM core is a huge advantage.

Now to shore up with more pitching and OF depth …

ClutchUp

appropriate in honor of Pagan and Scoots Comcast is playing Cains Perfect Game 🙂

fergie348

We’ve got a left handed outfielder – Gregor Blanco. Let’s get a good platoon partner for the shark. Scott Hairston? He’d be a good fit on this team..

Wow. Similar to Pagan. It’s one year more than I wanted, but barely more than I expected they would have to pay for a year less. Sabean gets a good grade on both deals in my book.

Bochy’s Thunderskull

I know 1 year for Scutaro was impossible, 2 years would have been fine and good, but 3… yeesh. Not that psyched about a 40 year old middle infielder. That being said, its not my money and as long as they (The Giants) don’t use it as an excuse in 2015, i’m ok with it.

fergie348

And yay on this deal. We needed ourselves a starting 2B. A LF, an experienced middle reliever and I think we’re done. Can’t wait for March!

South City Jim

Two weeks ago I figured it would take 3/$37M for Pagan, 3/$20M for Affeldt and 2/$16 for Scutaro. Given the way money is being doled out, I think the G’s did okay. Maybe a little long but better than I expected on a per year basis.

Wineguy

Psstt… hey Wilson. The gang’s all back together, we’re just waiting on you buddy. $2.5 with $4.5 in incentives. Do it.

Foothills Ryan

On one hand, Swisher makes no sense. Money, draft pick; it would make more sense to sign Ichiro.

But on the other, Swisher would provide insurance against Pence looking the same as he did last year and not worth a contract beyond 2013.

Otherwise, the Giants could be back in the free agent bin next year where prices will be even steeper or they’ll be in a situation where they feel compelled to give up valuable prospects to field a competent corner outfielder that can hit in the middle of the order.

So there’s definitely an argument for Swisher.

And if, as Lefty says, Pagan is only making 7 mil in 2013, Swisher on the payroll would bring it to around a cool 150 million – a very round and competitive number for a team with a great balance of defense and offense, veterans and youths, power and speed, rotation and bullpen.

As always,

Go Giants!

Foothills Ryan

RE: Hairston

Sounds like he’s just about sewed back up with NYM or another Eastern team.

Keep your enemies close. But it looks he’s getting away. Hopefully to the AL where can’t inflict so much damage.

Lefty

Matthew: Swisher is a switch-hitter who has hit 20+ homers for the last eight seasons, three in Oakland (including his high of 35 HRs), not a hitters’ park. He has a career OPS of .828. He’d be a legitimate middle-of-the-order power threat and a substantial offensive upgrade in LF. Blanco is a better defender, but he could come in for defense, of course.

Swisher is also supposed to be a great clubhouse guy, and he’s played in the Bay Area before. (The A’s drafted him.)

As for his postseason stats, it’s instructive to look at the Giants’ postseason batting averages this year. Other than Scutaro and Sandoval, who were well over .300, the BAs were abysmal. Blanco was third at .235! Swisher hit .250 in two postseason series with the Yankees this year.

I’d love to have Swisher, but unless they trade someone or really get ambitious with the payroll, I can’t see how it would happen. If Victorino’s contract is an AAV of $13 mil., Swisher’s should be higher. Swisher >>>> Victorino, and power hitters get more than slappy speedsters, anyway. Also, Swisher would cost a draft pick–which may not be that big of a deal this year. The Giants will be drafting low.

pinson

Wineguy makes excellent case. Let’s not forget, Scoot’s shown that he can dial up his game in the post season. His overall playoff numbers aren’t that much different than regular season (career BA .276 OBP.340 / post season BA .286 OBP .323) but we all saw what he did in the NLCS (14 for 28, .533 OBP). He dominated that series at the end of the day, and that’s worth every dime. Guys who can grind it out and make a difference in the post season – this is where you win ultimately. Jack Morris going 10 shut out innings in 91, the Willie Mays catch in 51, Panda going yard three times against the Tigers, Buster’s grand slam in Cincy, Renteria in 2010. This stuff – having a player go off and make a statement – matters because it takes the other team’s game away. Especially with the playoffs getting extended, players who can elevate their game late in the year – that’s huge. Getting Pagan and Scutaro back is awesome.

South City Jim

Too bad Brett Pill can’t hit a change up.

Lefty

Jim: “…hit a change-up”–or play LF!

Lefty

So fun watching the perfect game again…

JBGood

Excellent post #17!

South City Jim

I thought it was enlightening tonight when Alex said that Bochy intimated that the Giants really don’t have anyone in Fresno that’s ready. That spoke volumes to me. They needed to sign Scoots and may want to sign Theriot.

Die Hard Giants Fan

Swisher sounds good but peel the onion. Will the Giants be happy with another Hunter Pence like performer for that much money? 20 homers, 90 ribbies, 250 BA. Don’t think so. And Swisher is getting older not going into his prime like Pence.

There is not much available. I’d rather the Giants bite the bullet with Blanco, give the newbies some playing time, and perhaps sign another middle inning reliever. Thing is they don’t have to, they don’t need to. I think this team is set. Spring Training — can’t wait.

Wineguy

Arias over Theriot for UT service.

It wouldn’t surprise me to see them give Blanco the start in LF and make a mid-season trade as needed.

But signing Hairston to platoon just seems likely though right?

The Oracle

The lineup could get significantly better next year just by Pence hitting closer to his career numbers and Belt continuing his progression. Brandon Belt 2013: .290 w/20 HRs.

Serotonin Allstar

Now that most of the gangs all back. It somehow seems alright again to slip Cody back in there, as a platoon left fielder. If we can get him for maybe 2 years (not more)…